There’s not much of a guiding principle at El Corazon’s “Something Wicked This Way Comes” showcase. In short, six bands from Washington and Canada will play full cover sets of metal, punk and hardcore songs, all written by bigger name bands that saw their heyday before the turn of the 21st century. There’s some serious Northwest love in the line-up: Mukilteo prog rockers Fall of Troy (pictured) are covering songs by Botch, the gone-but-not-forgotten Tacoma mathrock outfit. But the some of the acts being covered — KISS, Jawbreaker and the Misfits — have little in common with each other musically, aside from the fact that they rock super hard. Plus, the event is a birthday party for Christopher Caballero, a Seattle photographer who is turning 30. And what better way to celebrate adulthood than having a bunch of hard-rocking bands usher you in?

Sat., Jan. 3, 9 p.m., 2009